Studebaker got a lot of mileage out of the Starliner platform. It became the Hawk in 1956 and some variations of the car lived on into 1964. In 1958, there were three versions of the auto: the pillared sedan called the Silver Hawk and the hardtop coupe sold as a Studebaker Golden Hawk or Packard Hawk. The seller has the more popular Silver Hawk and it’s a project that stalled some time ago – but not before a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 was installed. With a good body, this Stude is in a garage in Springfield, Illinois, and is available here on eBay for $8,500 OBO.
The 1958 model year was an off period for the U.S. auto industry due to an economic recession. Studebaker-Packard fared worse than some of the others and only built 8,816 copies of the various Hawks. The Silver Hawk was the only one you could buy with a six-cylinder engine (185 cubic inches) and the others had either a 259 or 289 V8 (the latter used a supercharger to get the most out of the engine). Barely 4,900 V8 Silver Hawks were built in 1958 (mostly in South Bend, Indiana).
Fins were all the rage by 1958 and the Silver Hawk didn’t disappoint in that department. They were trimmed in silver on the Studebakers and gold on the Packards. This would be the last year that fender-mounted turn signals would be employed on these vehicles (the seller’s Silver Hawk has them). And they even had small fins on them, too! This ’58 Studebaker looks to have a solid body, perhaps saved by the elements for being indoors for years. We gather the car is being sold as part of an estate.
For whatever reason, the then-owner decided to go the restomod route in building this car by dropping in a 350 Chevy V8. We don’t know the power output, but it appears to have been tweaked for maximum performance. But since the motor was put in, the car has not ventured out on the road, and we don’t know if it even runs. The owner passed away in the middle of the project. The sale comes with the original engine and transmission, which are out of the car (with a Chevy V8, does it mean that a TH-350 or TH-400 automatic was installed, too?). If you bought this Stude, would you go back to numbers matching?
This must be lousy picture month.
Only thing missing are fingerprints on the lens. LOL
Normally, I don’t think much of the trend of jamming an SBC into everything, but here, it works.
The Stude V8 had issues…which could have been worked out with time, and with product success; but Studebaker, controlled by what was left of Packard, had neither. The V8 was heavy and IIRC there were head-gasket and valve issues. And I doubt there are many sources today for parts.
The SBC installation is not a total blasphemy; the later Lark-derived Canadian Studebakers got essentially the same engine for the last two years of production. So there’s that. The Chevy motor will give trouble-free performance and allow someone to get into classic cars at a true bargain price.
GLWTS.
You are wrong about Studebaker V8s. MANY parts are available for them and they were very good engines to being with. I have a recent Studebaker parts catalogue with nearly 200 pages of available parts. I have owned numerous Studebaker V8s and never had any head gasket or valve issue with any of them. As far as I’m concerned, the value of this Hawk has been ruined with the Chevrolet engine jammed into it. If you want a Chevrolet, go buy a Chevrolet. Leave the Studebakers to us Studebaker fans.
Are Silverhawk engines easy to come by for a reasonable price? We don’t know what happened to the original motor, maybe it wasn’t salvageable. Hopefully the Studebaker community will see this and rescue it from Chevy blasphemy.
Good write-up about the Studebaker V8:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/engine-history-the-studebaker-v8/
It addresses the heavy weight (695 lbs), the design flaws (copied from Cadillac but missing key elements) and claims a lack of commercial support.
The SBC engine, without all the modern peripheries, weighs about 450 pounds average. That’s a considerable weight savings on the nose.
The lack of commercial support, I can believe. In the last twenty years I’ve only seen about 5 Studebakers, one running, and I don’t think they all had V8s. I can’t imagine a commercial enterprise fabricating parts and making money; and NOS parts have to be getting scarce.
Others wouldn’t do it? Great. Every man to his taste. The conversion is already done; and I for one think the best choice was made. Both the Canukbaker and the Avanti II used SBC Chevrolet (or GM-McKinnon) engines.
I agree. I’m on my second Studebaker V-8 (first was in a GT Hawk, this one is in a ’54 Conestoga) and they are quite solid engines. The GT Hawk 289 was a torque monster
Another weakness was the Studebaker v8s didn’t get a full flow oil system until 1962.
on my 53 i took out the flathead 6 and put a 330 Firedome Hemi in it. Bought the mounts from Hot Rod Exchange for $25…by Hurst….they also had SBC engine mounts. This was in 69……..did have to drop the rivetedin factory mounts and then weld them in (done by eyeball….worked!!!)
Beautiful old Hemi engine…….with a 2 bbl!!!
Looks like there’s a photo of the original engine and transmission in the listing even though the seller says they are gone(?)
My close friend and class mate’s grandfather owned the Studebaker dealership in our small town . . His mom got a new 57 Silver Hawk which he drove more than her . . 289 4 bbl dual exhaust , three on the tree with overdrive . . Fast for the time . . Rode many a mile in that thing . . Surprised a few power pack 57 Chevys . . Loved that car . .